private WHEN YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW [✦] dogbite


He still hasn’t found a star for him.

Though it always seems to have been, it’s in the wake of Blazestar’s death that his sleep seems to struggle the most. He’s spent his nights stargazing instead of resting, for the most part, with sleep only arriving just short of sunrise. The lead warrior’s had plenty of time to find a star for Blazestar in the night sky, just as he’s found one for Daisyflight, for Snowpath, for Sheepcurl, and so on. Yet he can’t seem to find one that seems right for the leader — one bright enough, gold enough.

What he has found, however, is someone else struggling to sleep. Often, others sit out at night too — for shorter amounts of time — but Dogbite is a new one as of late. The older warrior avoids sleep for just as long as him. Longer, even, for when Greeneyes finally retreats to his nest, Dogbite still remains awake. Though they share something in common, Greeneyes can’t help but to be concerned for the cinnamon and white tom.

Another night falls upon the pine forest, and Greeneyes settles into his routine, padding out of the warrior den to sit under the stars. Malachite eyes find the familiar form nearly right away in the shadows, and instead of sitting in his usual spot, he pads over to sit beside the scarred warrior.

You haven’t been sleeping, “ he notes, his words breaking the night's silence as he turns to look at Dogbite. ​
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  • // @Dogbite
  • 74596946_rY2pLJ2YZGmQ0CI.png
    GREENKITGREENPAWGREENEYES
    ── Lead Warrior of SkyClan

    ── Daisyflight x Raven Ramble
    ── AMAB; He/Him
    ── A red tabby and white tom with bright green eyes.
    ── Mentored by Sheepcurl; Currently mentoring Falconpaw
    ── "Speech"; Attack
 
It was hard to think about anything other than the tragedy that had occurred only a few nights ago. Since the vigil Dogbite had tussled with the need to sleep as his body screamed for it but his mind could only wander and wade. Pushing through every memory repeatedly as his dulled eye stared out silently to the stars. He had so many questions and far too little answers. Grief had robbed him of anger and with each passing day of dragging himself into the robotic movements of work they could hardly eat let alone rest. Disheveled pelt a whole new level of disastrous as the last cat to groom him had been Blazestar himself. He didn't have the heart to fix himself up or even take his own apprentice on promised hunts. His body had just enough energy stored to patrol and rot away beneath the stars while his pained mindscape battled in the quiet.

A soft voice breaks through his dissociation and he can't even take the time to raise his head. Pelt twitching with acknowledgement as Dogbite pulls himself back to the current reality. Body folded in on itself as his scruffy cheek laid against the earth. Looking up he finds brilliant green eyes peering down at him and at last he forces his heavy limbs to function. Carefully, he sits up, akin to an elder with aching joints in leafbare. Clearing their parched throat his voice come low and scratchy as a lame half-smile paints his scruffy muzzle. "Can't sleep." The retort is brief but packed with hollowed kindness. They don't have the power to put on a show for once but he see's no point in lying to Greeneye's. Grunting, he looks off to the side as another crackled mew leaves him. "You haven't been resting either, have you?" A silence falls across them in the inky dark as his chest heaves steady and deliberate.

  • ———✧———​
    ✧ LH cinnamon tabby w/high white one blue eye
    ✧ child of npc x npc ; sibling to crescent and bear
    ✧ skyclan warrior ; ex-loner ; mentor to littlepaw
    ✧ 32 moons old ; birthday 07/01 ; ages realistically
    ✧ AFAB ; nonbinary ; he/they
    ✧ pansexual ; polyromantic ; single
    "speech", thought, attack, powerplay
    ✧ peaceful powerplay allowed
    ✧ penned by tasmagoric
    ———✧———​
 
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He looks worse for wear, upon further inspection. Where Greeneyes’ own, usually unkempt fur is probably the cleanest it’s ever been — though his mind insists otherwise, insists blood still lingers, insists viridian seeps out of him — Dogbite’s is tufted and tangled. He can’t sleep, the older tells him, and the younger nods his head.

I can see that, “ he states, hooked tail curling around his form. He understands, after all — understands the weight of golden fur they'd shared upon their shoulders. “ I can also see that you look awful. When’s the last time you took care of yourself? “ His words aren’t demeaning, but perhaps innocently teasing, as a small smile pulls at his maw. He’s asked of his own sleep then, and Greeneyes hums, looking back up at the stars.

Me? That’s nothing new, “ Greeneyes tells him, dismissive of his own sleeping habits. He doesn’t think he’s had a complete night’s rest in moons, maybe seasons. But still, he finds rest, for the most part, which might be more than what Dogbite gets. “ Maybe worse, but only a little.Only a lot. He's starting to feel his own exhaustion weighing on him in the daytime, though he wonders if part of that is simply the ways of a grieving mind.

Silence falls over them again, but not for long.

It’s not good, you know, “ he meows, his gaze searching the stars once more, “ You have to sleep at some point. “ SkyClan can’t lose Dogbite too. ​
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  • 74596946_rY2pLJ2YZGmQ0CI.png
    GREENKITGREENPAWGREENEYES
    ── Lead Warrior of SkyClan

    ── Daisyflight x Raven Ramble
    ── AMAB; He/Him
    ── A red tabby and white tom with bright green eyes.
    ── Mentored by Sheepcurl; Currently mentoring Falconpaw
    ── "Speech"; Attack
 
Dogbite listens, it's something the tabby had always been decent at. Their blue eye trails from pale paws to bright orange patches and stark eyes that reflect his namesake. The comment is good-natured, and he takes no offense. It wasn't the first time someone had made a comment on his wily pelt. From his abundant scars, missing eye, and extensive time living on the streets, taking time to properly groom came only when necessary. However, he had begun to take a bit more care of his looks since joining Skyclan, but this was an exception. "I know." The last cat they had shared tongues with had been the deceased tom now haunting their daydreams. He couldn't will himself to wash the filth away, and he didn't care if others found it odd.

Then a small idea flickered by, and Dogbite willed himself into admission. A hidden plea for help. "Say, do you think you're up for sharing tongues?" Their question is timid and lacking their usual calm akin to a kit caught red-pawed. Carefully, the warrior leaned back and shuffles himself into a crouch. Their clanmate's last remark strikes a chord, and he perks up with a knowing look. "I will, at some point." Tattered ears sit upright as he meows on. "Maybe spending time under the stars and sharing stories could help lull us into some much-needed sleep." There's little hope in their heart this would be true, but he couldn't deny Greeneye's had a more than valid point.

They needed to rest at some point.



  • ———✧———​
    ✧ LH cinnamon tabby w/high white one blue eye
    ✧ child of npc x npc ; sibling to crescent and bear
    ✧ skyclan warrior ; ex-loner ; mentor to littlepaw
    ✧ 32 moons old ; birthday 07/01 ; ages realistically
    ✧ AFAB ; nonbinary ; he/they
    ✧ pansexual ; polyromantic ; single
    "speech", thought, attack, powerplay
    ✧ peaceful powerplay allowed
    ✧ penned by tasmagoric
    ———✧———​